Sixth Form Options Booklet

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For Composing pupils submit two compositions that are completed during the course and submitted in the second year. If Composing is selected as the specialist component, an additional set of three exercises is also submitted. Of the two main compositions, one is in response to a brief set by the exam board at the start of the second year, whilst the other is a self-devised work. Composing

Standard composing: Specialism in composing:

75 marks

25% of the total A Level

105 marks 35% of the total A Level

Together the Performing and Composing components account for 60% of the total A Level overall.

Appraising

Your listening, appraising, and analytical skills are assessed in a written paper at the end of the course. The Areas of Study offer the opportunity to explore the musical context, the musical language, and the interdependence of the musical elements in a range of musical styles and genres. You will study four in total.

The first two Areas of Study are compulsory and include prescribed works on which you will be examined alongside many other pieces of music.

2025-2027 prescribed works:

Instrumental music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 (1821-22)

AOS1:

AOS2:

Popular song – blues, jazz, swing and big band Ian Shaw: The Theory of Joy (2015): (i) ‘Small Day Tomorrow’ (3’15”), (ii) ‘Where Are We Now?’, (iii) ‘How Do You Keep The Music Playing?’, (iv) ‘You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two’

A further two of the remaining four Areas of Study will also be studied during the course and will provide the basis for assessment in the form of essays in the written paper. There is a significant amount of listening and reading to complete this part of the course, and you should be prepared to spend time reading and researching the topics covered in these Areas of Study:

Developments in instrumental jazz, 1910 to the present day Religious music of the Baroque period Programme music, 1820-1910 Innovations in music, 1900 to the present day

AOS3: AOS4: AOS5: AOS6:

Written Paper: 120 marks 40% of the total A Level

2 ½ Hours